Air conditioning unit



1939- A. WEILAND ET AL 2,148,596

AIR CONDITIONING UNI'T Filed Sept. 11, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A.Wei/and .L.6 BY H a so u Feb, 2 193%. A. WEILAND ET AL.

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Sept. 11, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F). 2281939. A. WEILAND ET Al AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Sept. 11, 1935 6Sheets-Sheet 3 R O T N E V m A. We/kwd f7. 1... 69/50 Feb. 28, 1939. A.WEIILAND ET AL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 11, 1935 A. WEILAND ET AL2,148,596

Feb. 28, 1939.

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Sept. 11,1955 e Sheets-Sheet s lNVEN'i'OR AWe/kwd HA. Gar/saw Feb, 28, 1939. A. WEILAND ET AL AIR CONDITIONING UNIT6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 11, 1935 INVENTOR A. Me/077d A TORNEYPatented Feb. 28,1939

"PATENT QFFICE' EONDE'IIONING UNIT ware - Application September ii 1935,Serial No. 40,108

This invention relates generally to a, salt-contained air conditioningunit and more particularly to a unit adapted to be mounted in themonitor of a railway car, although the general a arrangement andstructure of the unit adapt it to other applications. a

It is desirable that a self-contained air conditioning unit of the typeemploying a complete refrigerating system and air circulating meansshould be compact, economical in manufacture and maintenance, andefllcient in its operation and distribution of air in an enclosure,these various features being particularly important in the applicationof a unit to railway cars and especially when the unit ,is placed in thecar monitor. In adapting a self-contained unit to a monitor, it isapparent that the problem of providing a satisfactory unit is diflicultnot only because of the relatively narrow width and extremely shallowdepth of the monitor but also in view of the necessity, in the type ofunit herein disclosed, of causing condenser cooling air to beefiiciently drawn in and discharged out through deck openings while atthe same time efliciently 5 circulating car air over the evaporator anddischarging the'same into the car with suflicient velocity but withoutcausing drafts or substantial temperature variations in the ca r It isone object of our invention to provide an improved self-contained unitthat embodies the foregoing features in a simple manner which iseconomical in construction, operation and maintenance and yet iseflicientin operation and of comparatively light weight withoutsacrifice of -!itlll'tllli 85$. A further object .isto accomplish theforegoing results in such a manner that the unit may be readily andeconomically installed in a car monitor while still maintaining thepleasing appearance and harmoniousefiects of zthe interior architectureof the car. Another object is to so construct the component elements andarrange the same in such structural and functional cooperative relationthat they may be I economically formed of relatively thin plate 5 metalwhile at thesame time having all of the desired degree of rigidity.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled inthe art from the-following description of the accompanying drawings Fig.1 is a perspective of the assembled unit with its top cover plates andside wings removed to show various principal elements of its construction and-their arrangement;

Fig.2 is a perspective of the frame structure per se with the variousoperating elements omitted for sake of clarity:

' Fig. 3 is a perspective of the two longitudinal main beams of theframe;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the two endsills;

- Fig. 5'is a perspective of the two side members, one adapted forconnecting the end sills together and the other adapted for connectionto one of the side sills at its other end, an air flow baifie beingshown in its relation to this latter side member;

Fig. 5a is a perspective of a transverse partition shown in'its relationto one of the longitudinal beams; a

' Fig. 6 is a perspective of two side wings;

Fig. 'lis an enlarged perspective showing the manner in which thecondenser as a unit can be removed from or inserted in the frame;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective showing the manner in which theevaporator as a unit-can be inserted in or removed from the frame;-

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective showing the manner ofsupporting the fan casings and fan motor with respect to one of thelongitudinal beams;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the.fan motor showing means for steadyingthe motor during starting and stopping of cars; v

Fig. 11 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the compressor and motor unitand its supporting structure looking upward at the bottom thereof andshowing the manner of cushioning thecompressor against jolting of a carand of permitting the compressor to be bodily removed through the bottomof the unit while the unit remains in its installed position;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken on the line l2l2 of Fig. 11 butshowing the compressor in its inverted position from that of Fig. 11 andalso showing the partial removal of the com pressorthrough the bottom ofthe unit;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on a linecorresponding to lines lt-lt of Figs. 1 and 2 and showingthe manner inwhich the unit is supported by the car roof structure together with thefilters for the outside air;

. Fig. 14 is a partial. plan view taken on line IL-H of Fia.13.

In the particular embodiment of the invention which isshown hereinmerely. for the purpose of illustrating certain principles of theinvention together with one specific form among possible others that theinvention might take in practice,

we employ as generally shown in Fig. l a refrigerating motor-compressorunit I, a condenser 2, an evaporator 3, a car air blower 4 and condenserair blowers 5 and 3. These blowers are driven by a common motor I. Amoisture eliminator 9 is disposed on the discharge side of theevaporator. It will, of course, be understood that the foregoingelements per se may be of any suitable construction, and if desired theheat exchange elements 2 and 3 may have their condenser and evaporatorfunctions interchanged by suitable piping and valve mechanism such asshown in the application of C. R. Neeson, Serial No. 653,466, fliedJanuary 25, 1933, whereby the unit may function either as a cooler orheater. The compressor I may be of the hermetically sealed type or ofthe separate com; pressor and motor type, but they do not per se form apart of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 6, the framework includes. Fig. 3, twolongitudinal main beams 9 and I9 provided with inwardly turnedend-flanges II and I2. Outwardly turned upper and lower flanges l3 andi4 extend -for the full length of beam I 9. A lower flange l5 extendsfor the full length of beam 9 while an upper flange i6 is short. Formedin the web of beam l3 are condenser air openings I'I and i3 and. a carair opening l9 for communication with blowers 4, 5 and 5. The web ofbeam 9 has an opening 29 large enough to receive the combined air flowthrough openings I1 and 13 while an opening 2| cooperates with openingl9.

With the main beams or members 9 and i i in their relation as shown inFig. 3, there is next assembled therewith a pair of end sills 22 and 23,Fig. 4. provided with inwardly turned flanges 24 and extending entirelyaround the edges. Flanges 24 and 25 are cut out respectively at 29- and21 to receive the evaporator and condenser in a manner hereinafterdescribed. Sill 22 is provided with an inlet opening 23 forrecirculation of car air while opening 29 is provided for discharge ofsuch air into the car. The ends of the longitudinal beams are. togetherwith their upper and lower flanges |3-|9, inserted between the upper andlower portions of flanges 24 and 25 so that the outer edge of flanges l3-|6 lie along a line generally indicated at 39 and 3i, Fig. 4. The endflanges II and i 2 abut against the webs of the end sills and are weldedor otherwise suitably secured thereto.

As shown in Fig. 5, a side member 33, provided with inturned flanges 34and an air inlet opening 35, extends between the right ends of sills 22and 23, Fig. 4, preferably on the inside of the sill flanges. .Theposition of side member 33 will then be along the dotted line indicatedat 36, Fig. 4. Another side member 31, Fig. 5, having inturned flanges38, is secured to the left %nd of sill 22 preferably on the inside 01the sill .anges. This side member is considerably shorter than the sidemember 33, but in general it will lie on a line 39, Fig. 4. To reinforcethe free end of side member 31 and also to provide a guide fonthecondenser, there is provided as shown in Fig. 7 an angle iron 40 weldedto the under side of flange l5 and to the upper one of flanges 38. Toprovide a partition wall between the flow oi carair and outsidecondenser cooling air through the unit and also to permit said wall toadditionally function preferably in form ing the compressor andevaporator compartments, there is provided as shown in Fig. 5a atransverse partition 43. The portion of one end thereof has an ofl'setportion 44 and an angular portion 45 while at the same end a lowerportion 46 of partition 43 is formed as a straight line continuation ofthe main body of the partition 43. A shelf 41 connects angular wallportion 45 with the portion 46. The total depth of partition 43 is thesame as that of longitudinal beams 9 and I0, and shelf 41 is level withthe lower edge of opening l'i, Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 2, partition 43has one of its ends secured to a web 49 while the edge of angular wall45 is secured on the inner side of a web 50. The upper edge of thepartition is turned over to form a flange 5i. The right angle portion 44as shown in Fig. 8 is in longitudinal alignment with one end of theportion 23 cut out from the end sill flanges 24 to provide a sidesupport for evaporator 3. To form a continuation of partition 43 on theother side of beam 3, a panel 53, Figs. 2 and-5, is inserted between rib49 and the forward portion of short side member 31. This member may bepermanently secured or removably held by friction in its position, andto this end a small obtuse angle iron 54, Fig. 5 may be secured to theoutside of web 49, Fig. 3, to provide a lateral abutment for the edge ofpanel 53. With the parts in their assembled relation as above described,the frame per se has the appearance shown in Fig. 2 except for two sidewings which are shown therein and to be described later.

Evaporator 3 as shown in Fig. 8 is of just suiflcient dimensions as tobe removably received within the space defined by partition 43, angleportion 44 thereof, and vcut out portion 23 of end sill flange 24 and isof a depth substantially equal to that of the end sill 22 and partition43. The evaporator is bolted. Fig. 8, to angle irons 54 which aresecured to the inside face of end sill 22 while a corresponding angleiron for the far corner of evaporator 3, Fig. 8, is similarly secured topartition 43. The lower flange 24 of the end sill provides a temporaryrest for the evaporator while it is being bolted to said angle irons.

As shown in Fig. 7, condenser 2 has side frame walls 55, 55 eachprovided with inturned flanges 5! and 53 which form a substantialcontinuation of flanges l5 and 33 when the condenser is in position.Bolt holes 59 and 60 are formed in wall 55 and longitudinal beam 9 toreceive bolts for holding the condenser in position. Other portions ofthe condenser frame may be likewise bolted to end sill 21 or the end oneof flanges 25, Fig. 4. The condenser will also be supported by the lowerflange i5 of beam 3, Fig. 3, and by the lower one of flanges 25 of endsill 23. it being noted that the condenser is receivable within the cutout portion 21 of the upper end sill flange.

A moisture eliminator 8, Fig. 1., of rectangular form and of any usualbaille type or other construction is receivable in the space betweenevaporator 3 and beam 9, it being noted that this space is provided dueto the provision, Fig. 2, of a short horizontal flange portion 60 in theend sill 22. Moisture from this eliminator falls downwardly into asuitable trough from which a drain the car or to any other suitableplace for disposal.

The compressor I, Figs. 1, 11 and 12, is horizontally supported withinits compartment by the provision of a pair of supporting members BI and92 removably secured by bolts 33 to the under side 01 brackets 34. Theend ones of said brackets are pipe conducts water laterally to theoutside of secured to end sill 23 and partition 43 while the sidebrackets are secured to the longitudinal beams 9 and I0. Interposedbetween the compressor and cross members 6! and 62 are preferably fourcushioning devices 65. There is also provided a pair of horizontallyacting cushioning devices 66 and a pair of transversely actingcushioning devices 61, interposed between suitable brackets 68 on thecompressor and brackets 69 on the main frame members to which membersbrackets 64 are secured. All of the foregoing cushioning devices per seare preferably of the type shown in the application of Alfred Weiland,Serial No. 703,804, filed December 23, 1933. To remove or insert thecompressor, it is only necessary to remove the bolts 63 and the boltswhich hold the cushion devices 66 and 61 whereupon the whole compressorand cross members Bi and 62 of the fan motor, a pin 80a, Fig. 10, iscarried by v be removed as a unit with the motor.

single longitudinal beam without sacrifice of can, as a unit, passthrough the bottom of the apparatus without "disturbing other elementsof the apparatus.

Each of the casings for blowers 4, 5, and 6, Figs. 1 and 9, comprisesupper and lower portions 59 and 1|) connected together along anysuitable through a single shaft 14 which if desired may be formed insections connected through universal or flexible couplings, but in anyevent are driven by a common motor 1. This motor has brackets 15connected by removable bolts 11 to the under side of a pair ofsupporting members 18. These supporting members are carried oncushioning devices 19 preferably of the previously mentioned Wellandtype. Suitable brackets are secured to the upper stationary portion 69of the fan casings 5 and 6. To minimize longitudinal shifting motor Iand supported between suitable adjustable rubber pads 80b. To remove themotor, it is only necessary to disconnect bolt and nut connections Blassociated with the cushioning devices and then laterally shift themotor and supporting members 18 so that the latter clear the sides ofbrackets 80, whereupon the motor unit may be moved downwardly. It will,of course, be understood that the lower removable portions 10 of theblower casings are first disconnected to permit the shaft 14 and blowerrotors thereon to This arrangement has decided advantages including,among possible others, the extreme accessibility and removal of theblowers and motor therefor, the compactness it affords in combinationwith the remainder of the unit, andthe relatively simple and effectivemanner in which the parts are constructed and all supported along theside of a sturdiness or efiiciency of operation.

As so far described, the width of the apparatus is determined by thelength of end sills 22 and 23. This length is suflicientto permit theunit to be installed in a monitor of minimumdimensions. To adapt theapparatus to monitors of larger dimension, then as shown in Figs. 1, 2and 6, supporting side wings 84 and 85 are attached by welding, boltingor other suitable means to the side members 33 and 31. These side wingsare preferably identical, and hence the description of one will sufilcefor both. As shown in Fig. 6,

upper and lower longitudinal channel members 85 and 81 are receivedwithin the flanges B8 and 89 of end pieces 90 and 9|. The top flanges ofthese end pieces are inclined downwardly to form as shown in Fig. 4 asubstantial continuation of the inclined portion 92 of the end sills,such inclination permitting the unit to more nearly conform to thecurvature of the monitor roof. The side wing 85 is thus placed againstthe side member 33 and the inside flanges of channels 88 and. 81 arewelded or otherwise suitably secured to member 33. The side Wing 84 issimilarly welded to the shortened side member 31 and forms in effect acontinuation thereof to the end sill 23, thereby forming the outerstructural side for the compartment in which condenser 2 is disposed.The condenser may be bolted or otherwise secured to the inside flangesof the opposed channel members 86 and 81. Theend wing 84 thus reinforcesthe side member 31 and also positively supports the ends of the endsills particularly the rearmost end of sill 23' as viewed in Fig. .2.Suitable stepped brackets 93, Fig. 2, are secured to the vertical flangeof each of the end pieces 90 and 9|. These brackets rest upon a suitableangle iron 94 or other suitable flanges projecting inwardly from themonitor structure. Such angle irons may be equal to or greater than thefull length of the unit whereby after'the unit is raised within themonitor and the first set. of brackets rested upon the angle iron, theunit may then be slid longitudinally along the angle as a track untilthe forward pair of brackets is engaged by the track. Each corner of theunit may then be secured, Fig. 14, directly to the sides 90a of themonitor by. bolted angle iron 9| 1).

It will, of course, be understood that suitable cover plates extendacross the top and bottom of the unit from one side wing to the otherand that grilles are provided for the openings 28 and 29. A furtherfunction performed by side wing 90 is that the channels 86 and .81provide a receptacle for longitudinally extending filters 95 which inorder to be inserted .between the channels would be inserted verticallythrough suitable openings 86', F5 g. 13, in channel 86 and held by anysuitable bolts or other holding means.

All parts, except as otherwise noted, are formed preferably of lightplate metal welded together along their various lines of juncture.Regardless, however, of the advantages of the specific cation of thecondenser and evaporator on a line transverse alignment while thecompressor and evaporator are in longitudinal alignment, the

evaporator being disposed centrally of the unit at one end thereof;

In. operations- Assuming that the refrigeration system is in operationor that it is desired to circulate" car air and admit fresh air withoutoperation of the refrigeration system, then out:-

side air is drawn through usual deck openings in v the monitor andthence passed through filters 95,

openings 35 in end member 33 and into both end inlets of each blowercasing 5 and 8. This air then flows through openings 11 and i8 and overregistering therewith. Recirculated car air is drawn through opening 28and into the forward inlet of blower casing 4. while the inlet at theopposite end of said blower draws a portion of fresh air from the pathof outside air just previously described. The size of saidopposite inletcan be determined in accordance with any variable quantity of fresh airdesired. The combined recirculated and fresh air then flows over theevaporator l and through eliminator 8' and out through opening 24. Thecondenser cooling air and car air are maintained separate by partitionII and its angular wall while the car air after leaving the eliminatoris angularly directed by wall 53. This diagonal wall provides acompartment 91 in which valve mechanism is normally disposed foreffecting reversal of operation of the condenser and evaporator in themanner previously described. Condensate in the cooled car air impingesupon the baffles of the eliminator 8 and the liquid is conductedlaterally outside of the car.

From the foregoing disclosure, it is seen that we have provided a verycompact, sturdy and yet economical and eflicient self-contained airconditioning unit that is particularly adapted for installation againstceilings and especially in railway car monitors. The constructionpermits shop assembly of the complete unit and yet the construction andarrangement of parts are such that the vital elements such as thecompressor, fans and motor therefor may be readily removed while theunit remains in its installed position.

It will of course be understood that various changes in detailsofconstruction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forthin the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A self-contained air conditioning unit comprising a frame structure;a condenser, evaporator, compressor and air circulating means supportedby said structure in a substantially common plane; supplementary wingframes having longitudinal members spaced from the-sideof said framestructure and secured thereto by transverse members thereby defining aspace within the wings together with side openings for communicationwith said space; and air filters disposed within said space of one ofsaid wings.

2. The combination with a railway car monitor having spaced projectionsalong each of its lower .edges, oi a frame structure removablypositioned within the monitor and provided with lugs projecting from thesides thereof and engaging said projections to support the frame; and acompressor, condenser, evaporator and air circulating means supported bysaid frame structure in a substantially commonhorizontal plane; saidlugs being movable through the spacing between said projections topermit the withdrawal of the unit from the spacewithin the monitor.

3. A self-contained air conditioning unit comprising, in combination; aframe structure including a. pair of longitudinal main beams andtransverse elements connecting the same; compressor, condenser andevaporator elements supported by said frame structure; means formingseparate passages for conducting outside air and enclosure airrespectively over said condenser and evaporator; a plurality of axiallyaligned blowers for circulating the outside air and enclosure airthrough said passages, each of said blowers being provided with casingsupported on the outside of one of said mean beams; and a motor alsosupported by said latter beam for commonly driving said blowers.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 further characterized in thatsaid motor and blowers have their rotors directly mounted on a commonshaft.

5. A self-contained air conditioning unit comprising, in combination,horizontal frame members extending longitudinally and transversely, anevaporator centrally located at one longitudinal end of the unit, meansforming a longitudinal air inlet in one end of the unit substantially atright angles to but near the side thereof and laterally offset to oneside of said evaporator; means forming an outlet in the samelongitudinal end of the unit in which said inlet is disposed but locatednear the opposite longitudinal side of the unit in laterally offsetrelation to the other side of said evaporator, means forming a passagefor connecting said inlet with said outlet, and a blower disposedadjacent to one of said sides of the evaporator for circulating airthrough said passage.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 further characterized in thatthe passage forming means includes a chamber between said evaporator andsaid outlet, and a partition in said chamber for directing air outwardlythrough said outlet and for providing in association with said chamberforming means a sub-compartment for reversing valve mechanism.

7. A self-contained air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, aframe including end sills, a pair of main longitudinal beams connectingsaid sills, a pair of heat exchange elements, means for supporting oneof said heat exchange elements by and between both of said beams, meansfor supporting the other of said heat exchange elements on the outsideof one of the beams, means forming a passage for conducting outside airover one of said elements, means forming another and separate passagefor conducting enclosure air over the other of said heat exchangeelements, a plurality of blowers supported by said frame for circulatingoutside air and enclosure air through said respective passages, andmeans providing inlet and outlet openings communicating with saidenclosure air passage on opposite sides of said heat exchange elementwhich is supported between said beams.

8. A self-contained air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, aframe structure having horizontal end sills and a pair of horizontallongitudinallyextending members connecting said sills at points spacedinwardly from the ends thereofwhereby said end sills project laterallybeyond the longitudinal members; compressor, condenser and evaporatorelements, means for supporting certain of said elements by said framebetween said longitudinal members, means for supporting other of saidelements by said frame on the outside of one of said longitudinalmembers; means forming a pasage for conducting outside air over saidcondenser; means forming a passage for conducting enclosure air oversaid evaporator element and blower mechanism supported at the outside ofthe other longitudinal member and between the laterally projectingportions of said end sills.

9. A self-contained air conditioning unit comprising, in combination,horizontal frame members extending longitudinally and transversely; acompressor, condenser, evaporator and motordriven blowers all arrangedin a substantially horizontal common plane; means forming a passage forconducting outside air over said con driven blowers all arranged in asubstantially denser; means forming another and separate pashorizontalcommon plane; means forming a D sage for conducting enclosure air oversaid evaposage for conducting outside air over said conrator; and meansfor supporting said blower denser; means forming another and separatepasmotor for removal through the bottom 0! said sage for conductingenclosure air over said evapo- 5 unit. 1 rator; and means for supportingsaid compressor 10. A self-contained air conditioning unit comforremoval through the bottom of said unit. prising, in combination,horizontal fr members extending longitudiy and. trens er. 3 mam) 10 a,compressor, condenser, Mei? seas nin s oF ooRsscTIoN Patent 2,11 .8,596i- February 28 1959.

ALFRED WEILAND; I

Itlis hereby certified that er ror appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page Lsec-.

ond column-,.-l ine- 2,-flclaim 5, for-v the word "mean" read main; andthat the said-Letters Patent shouldibe read with this correction thereinthat the sameniay conform 15o vthe record of the case in the PatentOffice.

' gigned andgsealed this 26th day of Dec-ember, 'A FQD, 1959 v 7 'HenryNan Arsdale, KSeel) ne bingflo'inmissionerof Patents.

